Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Caribbean Region

Transcription

1 Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Caribbean Region Ms Clare O Farrell (FAO) Communication for Development Officer Extension, Education and Communication Service (SDRE) Food and Agriculture Organisations of the United Nations (FAO)

2 Global trends in ICTs and agriculture Caribbean agriculture and rural development ICT Connectivity in the Caribbean Towards national policies in ICTs for agriculture and rural development Emerging best practices Key stakeholders Contents Conclusions / Recommendations

3 Definition: ICTs ICTs can be described as combination of hardware, software and the means of production than enable the exchange, processing and management of information and knowledge.

4 Focus Questions Caribbean life by year 2020? What role for ICTs? Who are the stakeholders in this process? What can we foster today to achieve the vision of 2020?

5 Invigorate the rural space! Isolated, remote & poor areas Invesment Health Environment & Natural Resources Rural Livelihoods Private Enterprise Education Government Finance

6 Digital Revolution Unprecedented opportunities Major Challenges Strategies to reduce marginalisation.

7 Global Agricultural Sector Globalization Economic liberalization Technological change

8 Challenges Food security challenges Global supply chain Research and extension systems

9 Opportunities New extension / rural officer Dynamic farmer? Rural enterprise zones

10 Caribbean Agriculture and Rural Development The agricultural sectors suffer from poor communications infrastructure and weak institutional capacities Poverty on the rise Farmers under pressure to diversify whilst preserving the environment Demand for Information Services set to increase

11 The rural Digital Divide Stakeholders Rural communities and households Rural institutions; in the public and private sectors providing agricultural, financial, and communications services Policy-makers and their advisors

12 Growing consensus Knowledge and information are essential for empowering rural communities Communication is central to this process Convergence of technologies can help people share knowledge and information Information intermediaries (e.g. extension workers, educators, radio broadcasters) can help rural communities access relevant information

13 Effective use of ICTs for rural development will require integrated approaches

14 Policy: Agriculture and Food Security Recent Agricultural Policies THE OECS Framework and Strategic Plan Food Security and Rural Development Priorities for CARICOM Contribution of ICTs?

15 ICT Connectivity Upper Access Global Sweden (1st) Denmark (2nd) Rep. of Korea (4th) Canada, USA (10th) UK (12th) Singapore (14th) Japan (14th) Caribbean Bahamas (37th) St. Kitts & Nevis (38th) Antigua & Barbuda (39th) Barbados (39th) Dominica (50th) Jamaica (54th) Trinidad & Tobago (54th) St. Lucia (58th) Grenada (60th) Middle to Low Belize (71st) St. Vincent (74th) Suriname (74th) Guyana (83rd) Dom. Rep. (92nd) Cuba (102nd) Low Access Niger (178th) Haiti (147th) * ITU Statistics, Philip Cross

16 Policy: Telecommunications and ICTs Recent CARICOM Initiatives - CTU, ICA, ITU, IICD National ICT Strategies - Trinidad and Tobago: The Community Connection Programme A Youth Computer Corps Programme Opening up the telecommunications market to full competition

17 ICT s and the Caribbean RURAL SPACE We are HERE!!!

18 e-governance, Civil society use of ICTs, growing NGO involvement and direct control of ICTS ICT s and Natural Resource Management GIS, Environmental Reporting Establishment of Telecentres, Cyber centers, Internet Cafes, CORICS, multi-media postal services ICT Use for Promotion of Caribbean Cultural Products ICT s and the Caribbean RURAL SPACE We are HERE!!! Agricultural Policy Development in the Region Globalization, Trade Liberalization, CARIFORA Food Security programme, declining budgets for extension Rapidly Changing Telecommunications Policy, Greater Competition, Goal of Universal Access e-learning, ICTs and Education Affordable technologies, enhanced teledensity,

19 Getting the policy level right Disconnect between ICTs policy and agriculture and rural development sectors

20 Best Practice examples ICTs for Strengthening Research, Extension and Farmer linkages (CARDI, COL, IICA) ICTs for Agricultural Marketing (CARDI-ABIS) ICTs for Disaster Mitigation (FAO) ICTs for Rural People and Communities (TOCO Foundation, Youth container project, JSDNP, Knowing and growing network). ICT linkages for Tourism and the Culture Industry

21 ICTs for Strengthening Research, Extension and Farmer linkages COL Media and Empowerment Program (COLME) Promoting digital video, radio and distance learning.

22 ICTs for Strengthening Research, Extension and Farmer linkages CARDI Caribbean Agricultural Information Service (CAIS), Procicaribe and other networks Disseminating timely and relevant Ag Research Information IICA Agricultural Distance Learning and \Training Centre (ADLTC) Provides educational training on CD ROM with online support

23 ICTs for Agricultural Marketing Agricultural Business Information System ABIS Facilitates linkages between known producers and needy retailers. ICTs for Disaster Mitigation Forecasting, monitoring, early warning and food security systems.

24 ICTs for Rural Communities TOCO Foundation, Trinidad and Tobago The Youth Container Project, Jamaica the rural digital divide will not be closed just through the extension of technology or improved access alone. Other factors are also needed.

25 Tourism & Culture Industry Direct marketing Eco tourism Direct marketing Caribbeat s Music Industry - Represent Caribbean artists in the production and marketing of their musical goods and services and strengthen the network of production, distribution and promotion capabilities of Jamaican and other Caribbean music producers.

26 Agencies and Organizations needed for Collaboration International FAO, ITU, UNDP, UNESCO, CTA/ISNR, IICD, COL Regional CTU, IICA CARDI - CAIS CARDI - Procicaribe CARDI- CAMID, ABIS National Knowing and Growing organic growers network Toco Foundation, JSDNP, Container Project Bluefields Community, CERN, Caribbeat

27 Gaps to be addressed Lack of appropriate content to meet the information and capacity needs of small farmers. Lack of support to diversify rural livelihoods - encourage small enterprise Lack of support to extension services Innovation from NGO / CBO community has yet to be harvested on a wider scale.

28 In Conclusion ICTs in agriculture and rural development offer unprecedented opportunities for all stakeholders in the global agricultural knowledge and information system (AKIS). ICTs in rural development present major challenges to those people and communities who at present reside beyond the reaches of the networked society.

29 Successful ICTs Community Ownership Appropriate content Building on existing practices Capacity building Access and empowerment Strengthening partnerships Realistic approach to technologies Costs and financial sustainability

30 POLICY Recommendations [1] Create integrated rural development policies Revisit agricultural policies to address the opportunities offered by ICTs Revisit national ICT strategies and plans to include a rural component. Establish appropriate administrative and organizational structures at regional, national and local levels to facilitate dissemination of agricultural information using ICTs

31 ACCESS Recommendations [2] Support advocacy work to highlight the demand for rural services, challenge/mandate the private sector to service these areas. Support community owned access to media and ICTs fro education, health, enterprise and entertainment.

32 Recommendations [3] CAPACITIES Support local appropriation of ICTs Focus on needs and aspirations of target groups (youth and entrepreneurs) Use ICTs to catalyze a new role for extension officers Strengthen research, extension, market and farmer linkages though ICTs

33 Recommendations [4] CONTENT Create information in the form that users can access and use. Focus on neglected audiences to provide relevant information on agricultural practices and rural livelihoods Learn from what exists and works in the region for using ICTs for agricultural information and networking

34 Not only require the different sectors fitting together

35 But they will require all partners working together

36 Thank you

37 Invigorate the rural space! Isolated, remote & poor areas Invesment Health Environment & Natural Resources Rural Livelihoods Private Enterprise Education Government Finance

38 Application of ICTs Supply Chain Management the microprocessor enables produce to be organized, tracked and timed across the globe to correspond with the demand generated by point of sale information 1.

39 Definition: ICTs Information and Communication Technologies ICTs can be described as combination of hardware, software and the means of production than enable the exchange, processing and management of information and knowledge.

40 ACCESS Recommendations [2] Support advocacy work to highlight the demand for rural services, challenge/mandate the private sector to service these areas. Support community owned access to media and ICTs

41 Knowledge and Information for Development Knowledge and information are essential for empowering rural communities Communication is central to this process Convergence of technologies can help people share knowledge and information, Information intermediaries (e.g. extension workers, educators, radio broadcasters) can help rural communities access relevant information

42 ICTs - Relevance for Agriculture and RD Reducing isolation Facilitate dialogue Providing information and skills training